Let’s assume you are the chief fire officer for your local fire department. You are writing a new handbook for chief fire officers within your region.
For this assignment, you will be developing the section of the handbook that specifically addresses fire department organization and structure. For any department-specific information you use as examples, you must use real information or data from your current or local fire department.
This section must, at a minimum, accomplish the following objectives.
In a brief introduction, discuss the purpose of fire department organization and structure.
Explain structure, protocols, behavior/culture, vision, mission, goals, and objectives as they relate to overall department organization.
Explain the value of training, education, and credentialing in relation to department organization. Support this with a specific example from your department.
Describe how proper implementation of incident management procedures, such as Incident Action Plans and the National Incident Management System, contribute to effective fire department organization.
Discuss how data collection and trend identification can aid in a fire chief’s forward planning efforts. Support this with a specific example from your department.
Describe your department’s role in emergency management. Include how the fire chief and department leadership can influence community leaders. Support this with a specific example from your department.
Describe how the strategic planning process affects department organization. Support this with a specific example from your department.
While you are explaining these concepts, you are encouraged to supplement with personal experience or best practices of your department leadership. Remember, a critical skill of leadership is developing others. Keep this in mind as you develop this assignment to ensure you are developing future leaders that will serve the fire service well.
